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On October 2nd, England\\u2019s Department of Education announced it will back all head teachers who ban smartphone use in schools, even during break times. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2019-20 school year, 77% of public schools in the U.S. said they did not allow phone use during school hours, yet many schools still struggle to enforce such policies. What can educators do to ensure distraction-free environments where students can focus on learning?

Naomi and Ian are back after a few months\\u2019 hiatus and joined by Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and head teacher of Michael Community School, a free school established in 2014 in Wembley Park, London. Katharine explains Michaela\\u2019s \\u201cif we see it, if we hear it, we take it\\u201d policy on phone use in school, along with the remarkable results she has seen in student performance and behavior during the school day. Consistency in messaging and enforcement, she explains, is the key to creating a culture where teachers, parents, and even students, are in support of a phone-free environment.

Beyond just banning phones, Michaela seeks to instill in students the principles of personal responsibility, self-discipline, and resilience. Katharine outlines how she applies these principles to specific issues like assigning homework, encouraging all students to see themselves as \\u201cBritish,\\u201d not just members of a particular racial or ethnic group, and teaching children \\u201cknowledge\\u201d over \\u201cskills.\\u201d

Resources

Finally, We\\u2019re All Wising up About the Dangers of Screen Time for Kids \\u2013 Naomi Schaefer Riley, The Los Angeles Times

The Power of Culture: The Michaela Way \\u2013 book by Katharine Birbalsingh

Katharine Birbalsingh on Michaela \\u2013 The Report Card with Nat Malkus

Show Notes

0:00:50 \\u2013 What is Michaela\\u2019s approach to devices in school?

0:06:47 \\u2013 How do you gain consistency among your team regarding phone use?

0:15:14 \\u2013 How replicable are Michaela\\u2019s policies, and is anyone attempting to replicate them?

0:19:31 \\u2013 How does a free school in England compare to a charter school in America?

0:24:42 \\u2013 is the success of the Michaela model garnering attention from policymakers and leaders in education?

0:28:04 \\u2013 how does E.D. Hirsch\\u2019s book, The Making of Americans, influence your educational philosophy and practice at Michaela?